iPod Users Get Official Battery Replacement

turkmenistani writes "It's about time. After much complaining from iPod owners, Apple has finally started an official Official iPod Battery replacement (requires a free Apple ID). Although battery replacements have been available for older iPods for some time now, Apple has finally taken heed to their user requests and are now offering the service. From the Support page: 'If your iPod fails to hold a charge and it's more than a year old, you may need a new battery. Click Continue to order iPod battery service for $99 USD. This program is not available in Europe at this time.' Although the service is $99, they state in the article 'iPod equipment that is sent in for battery service or service requiring other repairs will be replaced with functionally equivalent new, used, or refurbished iPod equipment. You will not receive the same iPod that was sent in for service.' So make sure you back up that music before shipping it off!"

This makes a lot of sense

[Txiasaeia]

1) A user sends in his iPod with a battery that's not working.

2) Apple sends him a refurbished iPod of the same type.

3) Apple then refurbishes the user's original iPod, getting it ready to redistribute elsewhere.

Not only is this quick, but it makes a lot of sense! Of course, the refurbished iPods have to be in mint condition, but otherwise what's not to like (except the fact that it needs to be sent away and shipped back, instead of just purchasing a replacement battery at Apple)?

Re:engraved iPods could be a problem

[blackmonday]

Engraved iPods will be treated differently. You didn't really think Stebe overlooked this, did you?

Re:This is bullshit

[hawkbug]

I can't afford an ipod yet, but if I could, and it needed a new battery, I'd be mad as hell if I couldn't just get the battery in mine replaced. I don't want somebody else's ipod, I would want the one that I took very special care of. For all these people know, they could get one back that has been dropped a lot, etc. Those things have moving parts in them, so dropping them over time will definitely do some long term damage.

Re:This is bullshit

[jazman_777]

I would want the one that I took very special care of.

The ones who take very good care of their things are wary. The ones who don't are eager. Do I sense a problem with the program here?

They do test them, you know...

[mbessey]

It's not like they just grab one out of a box that a customer returns, and run a polishing mitt over it, and ship it out to you.

Any Apple reconditioned product gets thoroughly tested before it gets sent out. That's why they offer a warranty on reconditioned items. If they're not worried about it breaking prematurely, why should you be?

-Mark

Re:$99?

[FredFnord]

> And since when is 50% cheaper "not a whole lot less"?

Since shipping and tax makes it $70, and then you add in the hassle of having to install it yourself?

(The Apple offer includes shipping, I'm not sure if 'repairs' are taxable.)

-fred

Re:$99?

[n.wegner]

Uhuh. If you compare with NiMH, however, you lose.

What's not to like?!?

[Androgynous Coward]

How about spending 1/4 of the price of the device to obtain a battery. My Vaio laptop battery replacement was $96.00 through Amazon and I did not have to pay to ship it back and forth. Also, I kept the old battery so even though the charge was only 1/2 as good as it use to be it is still usable.

How much does the battery degrade after a year of heavy usage? I was thinking of getting an iPod but I do not want to have to spend $100+ every 16 mos to keep it usable.

Re:This is bullshit

[larry bagina]

If the iPod were a graduation present from an old man who turned 98, won the lottery, and died the next day, it could have sentimental value that another (used) one of the shelf doesn't have.

Also, what about any music you have on the hard drive? Hard drived do have a MTBF. If you get one that's been used 24-7, it may have a shorter life span (although if you use it sparingly, you might not ever find out).

oh well. I don't even own one (yet).

Apple's approach will benefit many, but not all.

[Anonymous Coward]

There are different forms of mechanical failure. Some instant and catastrophic, with no symptoms to forsee it coming. Hard drive crash after much use or abuse, for example. Please tell me the tests that can predict if my hard disk is near its failure point. Maybe it passes today, but will it fail in 1 month or 13 months?

If they're not worried about it breaking prematurely, why should you be?

Very simple... For Apple, it is a numbers game. If only 200 out of the 90,000 iPod users are unhappy, Apple has achieved excellent satisfaction numbers. Top-notch, by any standards. They set their goals, and understand that it's impossible to please everyone. Unfortuntely, if you're one of those 200, your experience sucks rocks. You don't benefit from the great experience that most people get. All that matters is that your tenderly cared-for and cherished iPod got replaced with a piece of shit that passed the test today but failed a month later. You're on the losing side of the numbers.

That's why you should be worried if you're in the small percentage of people who are meticulous about their gear. Most people aren't, and they benefit, on average, from your care and their own lack of it.

Re:What's not to like?!?

[IM6100]

The cost of producing a product with a user-replacable battery is significantly higher than making the battery a sealed-unit part of the device.

I know, I've participated in battery compartment design for small handheld medical devices. It can end up being a huge part of the cost of developing a product. If you haven't done weeks and weeks of drop-testing battery contacts after customer-return problems, you wouldn't understand...